BMW and Audi high end speaker systems

Carney97

Has anybody experienced a premium German car speaker system. Being fortunate enough to have experienced an Audi Bang and Olufsen system and BMW professional sound system I can safely say that any future cars I will look at will surely require an upgraded speaker system.

What do you guys think?
Would you opt for the upgraded speaker system?
If so what is the best system you have experienced?

bazz26

I have the upgraded Harman Kardon loudspeaker system in my current 5 Series. It is miles better than the standard sound system and I would not buy another BMW without it. It's more common on newer BMWs these days especially M Sport versions as it's part of an optional M Sport Plus package which is not bad value considering what you get.

Carney97

bazz26 wrote: »

I have the upgraded Harman Kardon loudspeaker system in my current 5 Series. It is miles better than the standard sound system and I would not buy another BMW without it. It's more common on newer BMWs these days especially M Sport versions as it's part of an optional M Sport Plus package which is not bad value considering what you get.

Agreed. Its insane the difference between the entry levels system and the upgraded sound system. Amazed not more people opt for the upgraded sound system. Suppose 95% of car owners in Ireland don't care.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

If your into real Hi-fi its commonly agreed that all car hi-fi sounds crap, your in a glass box with reflections everywhere, boomy bass often listening to compressed music.....

I think that a system with seperate tweeters and the ability to playback lossless music is a bonus, but spending 4-10k on a "insert name brand here that have great branding but are overpriced and underperforming" is a waste of time.

On BMW the standard system is poor and the HK systems are better, I have heard B&O systems sound terrible on audi's. BOSE sound good on a mazda and rubbish on a porsche...etc.

I all depends. I would want to hear the system in the actual model of car before parting with money. What sounds good to your ears wont sound good to somebody elses. Also some people dont care so long as its got good bass, and they dont hear clipping.

James Bond Junior

I had an 07 A3 a few years ago with a Bose system. Ms. Moneypenny had an 06 A3 at the same time with the standard system. Both sportbacks with the noisy 2.0tdi so no difference whatsoever. Sound difference was truly marginal at best between the two.

Carney97

Jordyn Unsightly Taxidermist wrote: »

If your into real Hi-fi it agreed that all car hi-fi sounds crap, your in a glass box with reflections everywhere, boomy bass often listening to compressed music.....

I think that a system with seperate tweeters and the ability to playback lossless music is a bonus, but spending 4-10k on a "insert name brand here that have great branding but are overpriced and underperforming" is a waste of time.

On BMW the standard system is poor and the HK systems are better, I have heard B&O systems sound terrible on audi's. BOSE sound good on a mazda and rubbish on a porsche...etc.

I all depends. i would want to hear the system in the actual model of car before parting with money.

My friends A3 is fitted with the Bang And Olufsen speakers. I have tried out the standard speakers in an A3 and the two systems are worlds apart. Also as an additional bonus the speakers are surrounded by LED's

XsApollo

Have Bose surround sound on my 2010 A6.
8 years on and it still sounds crisp and better than 99% of the cars I’ve been in.
First thing I notice is when I sit in someone’s new car is if the sound system is better than mine and the answer is usually nowhere near close.

Carney97

XsApollo wrote: »

Have Bose surround sound on my 2010 A6.
8 years on and it still sounds crisp and better than 99% of the cars I’ve been in.
First thing I notice is when I sit in someone’s new car is if the sound system is better than mine and the answer is usually nowhere near close.

Exactly. They also last for years. On cheaper cars rattles will develop as the years progress. I have tried the upgraded speaker system on BMW M cars from 2002 and it still sounds incredible.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

XsApollo wrote: »

Have Bose surround sound on my 2010 A6.
8 years on and it still sounds crisp and better than 99% of the cars I’ve been in.
First thing I notice is when I sit in someone’s new car is if the sound system is better than mine and the answer is usually nowhere near close.

Thats the thing right there, what you like is what you like. Bose has a certain signature sound on all their products thats not to everyone's taste or doesn't suit everyone's music library. Its totally personal.

Having fairy lights, or motorized tweeters (which degrades rigidity and sound quality) or super shiny speaker grills wouldn't motivate my purchase decision but it would for many.

XsApollo

Jordyn Unsightly Taxidermist wrote: »

Thats the thing right there, what you like is what you like. Bose has a certain signature sound on all their products thats not to everyone's taste or doesn't suit everyone's music library. Its totally personal.

Having fairy lights, or motorized tweeters (which degrades rigidity and sound quality) or super shiny speaker grills wouldn't motivate my purchase decision but it would for many.

Well I’m not really referring to the sharpness or something that audiophiles will hear.
But more about how it fills the car and how deep and rich it sounds, you can’t actually pinpoint where the sound is coming from, compared to say a new Volvo or Kia that I have been in recently where the sound is very directional and speakers sound weak.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

XsApollo wrote: »

Well I’m not really referring to the sharpness or something that audiophiles will hear.
But more about how it fills the car and how deep and rich it sounds, you can’t actually pinpoint where the sound is coming from, compared to say a new Volvo or Kia that I have been in recently where the sound is very directional and speakers sound weak.

Exactly, no high, no low must be BOSE. Bose enhances the less directional frequencies and output a "loud" unidirectional fuzz of mid-range sound. Some people find it nice, and to be fair its a good compromise for car audio.

Naim in Bentley on the other hand produces whats called BBC reference sound. This is a flat response where the idea is to reproduce the music as it was recorded. Some people find this tinny and harsh...I dislike Naim sound myself even though its super expensive and accurate.

My point is, that this thread is pointless. Me saying that I think BOSE in an Audi is crap means nothing. You might think its great. And what sounds good to me might not to you. We are both totally correct. I would advise that before anyone spends big bucks on a upgrade (if its a few hundred quid just get it) you have to listen for yourself to exactly what your buying, and if its worth it to you.

JoeA3

I also have the Harmon Kardon in my BMW and its very impressive. Loads of bass, a really meaty sound. I've read that the standard BMW setup is pretty terrible but I've never heard it so I can't give a fair comparison.

In my previous cars I only ever had a standard setup and I never had much complaint. I think its all relative... whatever you are used to. Now that I have the HK system it would be hard to go back to something more standard. Like any expensive option I guess

Carney97

JoeA3 wrote: »

I also have the Harmon Kardon in my BMW and its very impressive. Loads of bass, a really meaty sound. I've read that the standard BMW setup is pretty terrible but I've never heard it so I can't give a fair comparison.

In my previous cars I only ever had a standard setup and I never had much complaint. I think its all relative... whatever you are used to. Now that I have the HK system it would be hard to go back to something more standard. Like any expensive option I guess

Greatest marketing campaign for those speakers is to just let people experience it for a weekend and then they are hooked.

Eric Cartman

have the Harmon Kardon Logic 7 system in my 6 series and Range Rover, not to be done without, absolute essential now.

Voodoomelon

I still remember being blown away by the Logic 7 in my car 4 years ago, it still impresses daily. It even processes DD 5.1 soundtracks and provides proper channel separation throughout the car, i.e. helicopters flying from the front of the car to the rear. More of showpiece really, can't recall the last time i've played a DVD in the car. I notice that there's more of a soundstage sitting in the back of the car than the front, its noticeably better listening to music from the rear. Likely due to being further from the front channels unlike in the front where they're on top of you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4LzKHeGJiU

Carney97

Voodoomelon wrote: »

I still remember being blown away by the Logic 7 in my car 4 years ago, it still impresses daily. It even processes DD 5.1 soundtracks and provides proper channel separation throughout the car, i.e. helicopters flying from the front of the car to the rear. More of showpiece really, can't recall the last time i've played a DVD in the car. I notice that there's more of a soundstage sitting in the back of the car than the front, its noticeably better listening to music from the rear. Likely due to being further from the front channels unlike in the front where they're on top of you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4LzKHeGJiU

As soon as I saw that car I thought "That car looks very familiar" went onto youtube and stumbled across your previous videos on your car. Gorgeous car. Do you still own the car?

Voodoomelon

Thanks, yep still the daily beater.

munchkin_utd

Voodoomelon wrote: »

I still remember being blown away by the Logic 7 in my car 4 years ago, it still impresses daily. It even processes DD 5.1 soundtracks and provides proper channel separation throughout the car, i.e. helicopters flying from the front of the car to the rear. More of showpiece really, can't recall the last time i've played a DVD in the car. I notice that there's more of a soundstage sitting in the back of the car than the front, its noticeably better listening to music from the rear. Likely due to being further from the front channels unlike in the front where they're on top of you.

on a 7 series long wheel base, the sound being better in the back might be because in many cases the lad at the front is "the driver" and the lad in the back the owner of the car (or a client of a limo company getting driven about)!

Carney97

munchkin_utd wrote: »

on a 7 series long wheel base, the sound being better in the back might be because in many cases the lad at the front is "the driver" and the lad in the back the owner of the car (or a client of a limo company getting driven about)!

On my friends old car he tuned the radio so the majority of the sound was pumped through the rear speakers. If you sit in the front the speaker quality is significantly better BUT in the back your ears start to bleed. :D